how to address a teacher who cannot teach?

[Anonymous]

My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

[Anonymous]

Your child is going to have to deal with incompetence their whole life, whether it's a coworker, a boss, or one of their own employees. Getting used to working with a wide variety of people is a good thing. You not bashing the teacher in front of your child will go a long way. Her communication style is just different. Truly it will benefit your child learning to work with this teacher. And in the meantime you're doing the right thing as far as tutors and extra help for your child.

[Anonymous]

My ds has a dud teacher for algebra. I’m paying for him to go to the Russian School of Math for supplemental instruction. For us, it’s less about grades and more about making sure he understands everything, because algebra is so fundamental.

I don’t think there’s much you can do beyond getting outside instruction for your daughter. Is there a textbook for the class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

Your daughter is in AP calculus and you are still the one speaking for her?

Your daughter and others are struggling in AP calculus, one of the hardest hs courses offered, and you think it is the fault of the teacher?

[Anonymous]

There are also the course-specific AP resources:

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ds has a dud teacher for algebra. I’m paying for him to go to the Russian School of Math for supplemental instruction. For us, it’s less about grades and more about making sure he understands everything, because algebra is so fundamental.

I don’t think there’s much you can do beyond getting outside instruction for your daughter. Is there a textbook for the class?

This has been my approach for all of early ES. If you kid is at or above grade level, they generally don't receive instruction so if you want them to learn you have to do it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

Your daughter is in AP calculus and you are still the one speaking for her?

Your daughter and others are struggling in AP calculus, one of the hardest hs courses offered, and you think it is the fault of the teacher?

My daughter has spoken to the teacher a million times about this, gone in to her lunch tutoring sessions, etc. My reaching out at the end of the third quarter of the year--after my daughter has been attempting to get help since September--doesn't seem particularly inappropriate to me.

In addition, since my daughter is studying regularly, getting lunchtime help from the teacher, has an outside tutor - yes, I do think that the teacher and her approach to teaching is contributing to this problem. I support teacher autonomy but teachers are not perfect. Obviously we believe my daughter is mainly responsible for her learning, which is why we've addressed this first by getting her outside help. You'll notice that YOU said "it is the fault of the teacher" and I did not.

Oh, and by the way, thanks for the constructive feedback. Glad you spent your time this morning being snarky to someone asking for some help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are also the course-specific AP resources:

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab

Thanks for this. Yes, we've been using them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

Your daughter is in AP calculus and you are still the one speaking for her?

Your daughter and others are struggling in AP calculus, one of the hardest hs courses offered, and you think it is the fault of the teacher?

My daughter has spoken to the teacher a million times about this, gone in to her lunch tutoring sessions, etc. My reaching out at the end of the third quarter of the year--after my daughter has been attempting to get help since September--doesn't seem particularly inappropriate to me.

In addition, since my daughter is studying regularly, getting lunchtime help from the teacher, has an outside tutor - yes, I do think that the teacher and her approach to teaching is contributing to this problem. I support teacher autonomy but teachers are not perfect. Obviously we believe my daughter is mainly responsible for her learning, which is why we've addressed this first by getting her outside help. You'll notice that YOU said "it is the fault of the teacher" and I did not.

Oh, and by the way, thanks for the constructive feedback. Glad you spent your time this morning being snarky to someone asking for some help.

Have you read the headline of your OP?

Regardless, AP calc is typically taught like a college level course. It's also not for everyone and its okay if your daughter doesn't master it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Your child is going to have to deal with incompetence their whole life, whether it's a coworker, a boss, or one of their own employees. Getting used to working with a wide variety of people is a good thing. You not bashing the teacher in front of your child will go a long way. Her communication style is just different. Truly it will benefit your child learning to work with this teacher. And in the meantime you're doing the right thing as far as tutors and extra help for your child.

Yes, she will have to deal with incompetence. At the same time, I'm looking for some strategies here that I haven't already pursued to address the poor instruction she seems to be getting. I support teachers so I certainly have not and will not 'bash' the teacher. This is why I am coming to an anonymous place to discuss this and haven't mentioned the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ds has a dud teacher for algebra. I’m paying for him to go to the Russian School of Math for supplemental instruction. For us, it’s less about grades and more about making sure he understands everything, because algebra is so fundamental.

I don’t think there’s much you can do beyond getting outside instruction for your daughter. Is there a textbook for the class?

Yes, there is a textbook for the class, which she uses to study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Your child is going to have to deal with incompetence their whole life, whether it's a coworker, a boss, or one of their own employees. Getting used to working with a wide variety of people is a good thing. You not bashing the teacher in front of your child will go a long way. Her communication style is just different. Truly it will benefit your child learning to work with this teacher. And in the meantime you're doing the right thing as far as tutors and extra help for your child.

Yes, she will have to deal with incompetence. At the same time, I'm looking for some strategies here that I haven't already pursued to address the poor instruction she seems to be getting. I support teachers so I certainly have not and will not 'bash' the teacher. This is why I am coming to an anonymous place to discuss this and haven't mentioned the school.

Why are you continuing to say you will not bash the teacher when you lead this conversation with "teacher cannot teach"

[Anonymous]

Ask the teacher if she could assign/post on the class page practice/homework, even if it’s optional.

[Anonymous]

PP. And/or ask the teacher if she can post her slides or notes or whatever she uses to the class page.

[Anonymous]

OP I strongly recommend you get your dd a tutor.